Many people have asked us about our choice to do an open adoption. The idea of an open adoption is relatively new, and we are glad that we have been able to approach the arrival of David with the understanding that an open adoption brings. Some of the key key things unique to an open adoption are:
1--David will know from the very beginning that he is adopted and who his birth mother is. We will keep a relationship with the birth mother that will allow us to communicate with her, send her pictures, and she will be aware of how David is growing and progressing.
2--This openness will allow us to teach David about Heavenly Father's plan for him. We believe that God creates families. And he has created ours by sending David to our family through his birth mother. We hope that this knowledge will help David to learn more about all the people that love him, as well as a knowledge that the heavens know his name and helped him to arrive in our family in this unique way.
3--The openness has also allowed us to get to know our birth mother over the last few months. We have spoken to her on a weekly basis since she made the decision to place her baby with us. All of this communication has helped us to have a basis for our love for her. We would have still felt love for any birth mother that blessed our family with a child, but coming to know her heart has made that love sweeter.
4--The open adoption has also allowed us the opportunity to be with our son from the moment of birth. Thanks to the generosity of the birth mother, we were invited to the delivery (and miraculously made it in time from Alaska!). Sam was able to cut the umbilical cord and I had the second wristband so we could spend time with David while we were still in the hospital and allow the birth mother to rest.
5--Through the openness of this adoption, we have also been able to meet many people that love our birth mother and the life she has brought into the world. We have spent a lot of time with her family this last week. We have also been able to meet friends from her home town, and they have showered David with rememberances of more people that love him. We truly feel blessed to have all of these people interested in the well-being of our son.
6--Last, but certainly not least, our open adoption has allowed us to develop a level of trust that has surprised us. We came to trust our birth mother that she was going to carry through with the decision to place her baby in our family. We also came to trust her that she was making a huge effort to give our baby a healthy start to life in the way she took care of herself during the pregnancy. And now she is trusting us that we will keep her in touch with our family and share with her the joy David brings to our life.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
A New Little Baby to Love
David Samuel Sponseller arrived in this big world on January 26, 2009. He weighed in at 8 lb, 3 oz and measured 20 1/2 inches. We were able to miracoulously arrive in time for his delivery, an opportunity for which we will forever be grateful. He eats like a champ and doesn't cry unless he has reason. He is perfect.
Our hearts are full for not only this new little life in our family, but also for the angel birth mother that delivered him safely to our arms. We couldn't have asked for a sweeter experience over the last few days as we have spent time with her and her family. Over the next few days, we will post more pictures and story about the amazing experience we have had as an adoptive couple.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
It's Beginning to Look a lot like Baby!
Packing everything we need for the baby into a suitcase has kept me in a fanatical list-making mode. OK, so maybe the shoes are a little over board . . . but we'll have them readily available for when we finally bring our son home. I want to maximize the number of times this little guy can wear his littlest clothes.
I am also carrying a list around of all the possible flights we could take if we get the call before our scheduled flight on January 29.
Our 3rd Anniversary
On our first anniversary, we were travelling back through St. George and stayed at the same bed and breakfast where we spent our honeymoon.
On our second anniversary, we had our first set of couches delivered, and we were in the middle of painting our home that we had been in for only 6 weeks.
This year, we enjoyed having dinner at Beni Hanas--a Japanese grill with the chef putting on a show for us at our table--then went to a New Year's Eve party with friends. At the party, we were lucky to have a panoramic view of several different fire works shows going on through the neighborhoods! It beat standing out in the cold -20 degrees weather for the downtown fireworks to ring in the new year!
With a Cherry on Top
Sam's first homemade lasagna was definitely worthy of a cherry on top! And many thanks to Mom for the masculine, classy apron!
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